0:00:11 > 0:00:14Well, hello, and welcome to the Beechgrove Garden.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17First programme of the season and a wonderful spring day it is too!
0:00:17 > 0:00:18Absolutely amazing weather, isn't it?
0:00:18 > 0:00:20But it's been spring for a while, hasn't it?
0:00:20 > 0:00:23It tells you something about the Scottish weather -
0:00:23 > 0:00:24it's so unpredictable.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28Remember the serious winds we had in December and in January?
0:00:28 > 0:00:33We've got 100 ft polytunnels, nine of them, lost every single one.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36Lost the glass out of the greenhouses and in our shop,
0:00:36 > 0:00:39I thought it was going to blow away that morning. It was terrifying.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42The wind that came through in December loosened everything up
0:00:42 > 0:00:46and then the one in January took out the things that had been sheltered before.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48The damage in the Botanics at Dawyck and Benmore
0:00:48 > 0:00:52is absolutely astonishing and they've lost about 50 years of growth,
0:00:52 > 0:00:55- that's the serious thing. - It's a real shame.
0:00:55 > 0:01:00The west got it, you got it, we were quite good here.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02The garden here was comparatively unscathed.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05One or two cold frame lids, that's about all that got damaged.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09We'd a big garden seat covered in a waterproof cover for the winter.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12It was lifted four metres, boom, and crashed down.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16That's where gardeners have seen the problems,
0:01:16 > 0:01:19with plants being broken and there's a bit of repairing to be done.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21There's hardly been any frost either, has there?
0:01:21 > 0:01:24Well, on a positive note, it has been so warm, hasn't it?
0:01:24 > 0:01:28End of February, 17.2. Incredible.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32And we have to say that we're back to the Scotland thing again.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36The west coast has had a pounding with rain and wind and so on,
0:01:36 > 0:01:39- down in the south-west, flooding. We've been fine.- That's right.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42All the water's gone up the west, the rain shadowing the east,
0:01:42 > 0:01:46usual sort of story and the fields, though, are dry, the ground is dry.
0:01:46 > 0:01:48There's hardly been as much rain as we normally have
0:01:48 > 0:01:50and everything's warm and just ready to go.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53But it means that the garden is as far forward as I've seen it.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56- Isn't it looking fabulous? - It's really coming on.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59All the work has been going on apace, hasn't been held up.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01Here's the team, already busy with Jane,
0:02:01 > 0:02:03our new head gardener, getting the pond cleaned up.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06- So it's all moving. - The frogs are on the move.
0:02:06 > 0:02:07Are they?
0:02:07 > 0:02:12Anyway, in the meantime, in the rest of the programme...
0:02:14 > 0:02:16You know, I don't know how many times I've been asked,
0:02:16 > 0:02:18what do gardeners do in the winter?
0:02:18 > 0:02:21Well, believe you me, gardening never stops and we thought
0:02:21 > 0:02:25we'd take the opportunity, here we are in December, what goes on.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30And here we have a healthy young pineapple,
0:02:30 > 0:02:32a native of tropical America.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35What's it doing here in tropical Inverness?
0:02:35 > 0:02:36Stay with us.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41As we said, this is a really early season, possibly three weeks early.
0:02:41 > 0:02:46Look at these, these are wonderful Narcissus February Gold
0:02:46 > 0:02:48coming out now and then this thing called Jetfire.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52They look splendid but watch, because there's slug damage on these
0:02:52 > 0:02:53so we need to put some slug pellets down.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56Anemone blanda, this wonderful blue
0:02:56 > 0:02:58and you get the blue and yellow together -
0:02:58 > 0:03:00it's a great spring combination.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Further down, this little daffodil just doing its bit,
0:03:03 > 0:03:05quite unprepossessing.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08That's Gypsy Queen - a wonderful creamy colour.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12But look at this, Lent lilies.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15Unfortunately they always hang their head down
0:03:15 > 0:03:17so we don't really see the beauty of the flower,
0:03:17 > 0:03:20but fantastic flowers when you get close up to them like that.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23If you want to see them without bending back like this,
0:03:23 > 0:03:26put a mirror underneath and you'll get the reflection coming up
0:03:26 > 0:03:28and you can walk past and see them no bother at all.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33You know, we've already mentioned that the weather this winter
0:03:33 > 0:03:35has been so mild and that has made
0:03:35 > 0:03:38such a difference to the garden and the gardeners.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42Already, this seaside garden looks wonderful, not a weed in sight
0:03:42 > 0:03:44and everything's been mulched.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47The good thing, because the last two winters
0:03:47 > 0:03:49I was looking at some plants and they looked dreadful,
0:03:49 > 0:03:52take for example the Phlomis there,
0:03:52 > 0:03:54it's nice and green, plenty of growth.
0:03:54 > 0:03:59The Olearia, Olearia haastii, that got hammered for two winters
0:03:59 > 0:04:01and now there's plenty of new growth there.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Had we had another severe winter,
0:04:03 > 0:04:05I think I'd have said that's got to go out.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08Then we've got things like the tree lupins,
0:04:08 > 0:04:13there's life there, the Artemisia, lots of wonderful life there,
0:04:13 > 0:04:14so I'm so delighted.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18But if I move forward here, you shouldn't really see me
0:04:18 > 0:04:20because this is where the Snowgum was.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23That wonderful eucalyptus, a really hardy tree,
0:04:23 > 0:04:26but two winters with severe weather,
0:04:26 > 0:04:30what happened in the end was a lot of the bark started to crack
0:04:30 > 0:04:33and the top died back, so we had to have that chopped down.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37Over the winter time, a tree surgeon came in,
0:04:37 > 0:04:40a lot of the limbs were taken down, the gardeners helped
0:04:40 > 0:04:44and the good news is, there's still a bit of life here.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47It's sprouting out. It is quite a hardy eucalyptus
0:04:47 > 0:04:50and I think what we need to do is contain it -
0:04:50 > 0:04:52we don't want it to get too big.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56We may eventually thin out some of the growth.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59The calendar border, it's looking fantastic as well.
0:04:59 > 0:05:00That's been mulched
0:05:00 > 0:05:03and there's quite a few plants there that are looking good.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07George has already mentioned some of the dwarf bulbs like narcissus,
0:05:07 > 0:05:09but there we've got Glory of the Snow
0:05:09 > 0:05:12a pink form, called Pink Giant.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15That's a wonderful pink form.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19And then on the same theme of pink flowers we've got Daphne mezereum -
0:05:19 > 0:05:23pink flowers, and it comes into flower before the leaf forms.
0:05:23 > 0:05:28It's got beautiful fragrance, so the important thing about that plant
0:05:28 > 0:05:31is make sure that you plant it near the path.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35So, in the family fruit orchard, over winter,
0:05:35 > 0:05:37we've put the net on the top to keep the birds out
0:05:37 > 0:05:39so they so they don't get in and nip all the buds off
0:05:39 > 0:05:42particularly the fruit buds, that's what's important.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45Also, we've brought in the blueberries.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47They were in a polytunnel elsewhere.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50We've brought them in here, given them good acid compost and got them going.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53They'll get lots of water over the summer
0:05:53 > 0:05:55and that will make them fruit better, we hope.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58Last year, we hammered this plum, didn't we?
0:05:58 > 0:06:01We took the inside out of it and were left with two shoots.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04What I want to do now is sacrifice any fruiting on this.
0:06:04 > 0:06:05It's got fruit buds on it
0:06:05 > 0:06:08but I'm going to take the majority of the young growth off this
0:06:08 > 0:06:11and get a good structure onto the plant.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13These are going to be pruned back.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16Don't yelp at home, don't get all excited.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20That will then bush out and it will make a bush like this.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24This is another plum, but what we've got on this one is
0:06:24 > 0:06:27we can see where all the fruit buds are all the way along there.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30When this fruits, it's going to bed over like that
0:06:30 > 0:06:32and another shoot will come up here.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35What I've got to do is to make sure
0:06:35 > 0:06:37I take out any crossing wood at the moment.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39So that's good to come off, down in there,
0:06:39 > 0:06:41because that was coming right out, crossing.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44Look at this, going through the net. Going to take that down to there.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46I'll do the same with that one there.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49And then that way, we open out the bush.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52I could actually take that down further, couldn't I?
0:06:52 > 0:06:53There you are, look at that.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57Opening out the bush, making sure we get air through the middle
0:06:57 > 0:07:01gives the fruit that's going to develop lots of light
0:07:01 > 0:07:04and that will be good colour on the fruit, come picking season.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06Even in the coldest days of the winter
0:07:06 > 0:07:09the gardeners were never short of a job to do.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12They've spruced up this pergola, which is now 16 years old,
0:07:12 > 0:07:15and I think it looks very smart in this dark shade of green.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18Some of the plants also looking very nice in the garden,
0:07:18 > 0:07:20this is Hebe Red Edge, with that lovely purpley tinge.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22I think that's beautiful.
0:07:22 > 0:07:27And flowers, well, we've got these hellebores here, with a lovely purple tinge to the green.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30I think that's gorgeous, one of my favourite plants.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34Rhododendron's looking healthy. Look at the buds on that - that'll flower in a few weeks' time.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37Also flowers across there with the Chaenomeles
0:07:37 > 0:07:39and there's buds on the Cornus.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41The whole thing is absolutely coming to life.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43This cloud pruning that Carole did
0:07:43 > 0:07:47on my pine a few years ago is growing on me.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50You can see the formations now and it's come through the winter quite nicely.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53There's no burn and it's looking really healthy and beautiful,
0:07:53 > 0:07:54so I think I've forgiven her.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58Well, it may be a warm, sunny day in late March but last December,
0:07:58 > 0:08:02on a cold frosty day, Jim and Carole tackled a few winter garden jobs.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06Well, this is a bit of an unexpected pleasure, eh?
0:08:06 > 0:08:08- Beechgrove in winter, in December. - It is, Jim.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11Let's have a look at some of the stars of the show,
0:08:11 > 0:08:13because we don't get an opportunity.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16The pampas grass in the Seaside Garden, it's one of the dwarf forms,
0:08:16 > 0:08:21Pumila, and because it got knocked back last winter,
0:08:21 > 0:08:23it now has a show at this time of year, rather unusual.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25It's certainly earning its corn!
0:08:25 > 0:08:30As indeed is the Mahonia down there, the yellow-flowered Mahonia.
0:08:30 > 0:08:31That variety is Charity.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33If you get that in a nice sheltered corner,
0:08:33 > 0:08:35it's got a wonderful perfume coming off it.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37It's nice to have scent this time of year.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39Something slightly unusual is the Muscari.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42We've got a pot of Muscari in flower now.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44That shouldn't flower until what, March, April?
0:08:44 > 0:08:47The star of the show has got to me that Cryptomeria.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50When that's got the sun on it, it's stunning, isn't it?
0:08:50 > 0:08:54People worry because they think it's dying. That's meant to be the winter show.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57I think we're going to have to go and do some work.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04Our advice is always to get the winter digging
0:09:04 > 0:09:06done as early as you possibly can.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09Here in our main veg plot, there's nearly three-quarters of it
0:09:09 > 0:09:11done already and you'll notice that
0:09:11 > 0:09:14the surface has been left quite rough. That's on purpose,
0:09:14 > 0:09:18because it increases the surface area to be affected by the weather.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20It freezes, it melts, it freezes, it melts
0:09:20 > 0:09:24and by the time you come to dig that and get it ready for sowing
0:09:24 > 0:09:26and planting in the spring, it crumbles up.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30The weather has done the tilthing for you.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32"The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men
0:09:32 > 0:09:34"Gang aft agley," as they say.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37I was going to be digging in this green manure,
0:09:37 > 0:09:39which was sown back in the end of August,
0:09:39 > 0:09:42because the plot was otherwise going to be empty.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44Green manuring will help to add fibre to the soil
0:09:44 > 0:09:48and it really helps tilthing and as they say, nature abhors a vacuum.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50The whole procedure, single digging here,
0:09:50 > 0:09:55first in all was to cut back all the growth from the green manuring,
0:09:55 > 0:09:58there it is, and get that into the bottom of the trench.
0:09:58 > 0:10:03Then, skim off the top surface layer with the rest of the roots,
0:10:03 > 0:10:07but this morning we discover the top surface layer is
0:10:07 > 0:10:11two inches deep in frost and the cardinal rule is
0:10:11 > 0:10:15you should never dig in frosted ground or frozen ground
0:10:15 > 0:10:19because it'll stay frosted when it's buried and cause problems later on.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22What I wanted to go on to do and show you is
0:10:22 > 0:10:24the old-fashioned way of digging.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27Once you've got that cleaned off and into the bottom of the trench,
0:10:27 > 0:10:30most of the textbooks will show you
0:10:30 > 0:10:33digging and throwing the sods forward.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35Far better to do it sideways.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38It's a much easier job. Look at that.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41Look at that soil! Then just flick it over.
0:10:45 > 0:10:50Well, well. We often say that gardening is a 365 days a year business.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52There's always something to see or something to do.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56Well, here's something interesting to see in this solar tunnel here.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58Plants that were put out in our last programme,
0:10:58 > 0:11:00the 26th programme at the end of September,
0:11:00 > 0:11:03and here they are, coming along - overwintering brassicas and lettuce.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07It was one of the seed companies were offering young plants
0:11:07 > 0:11:08and here they are here.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11We got the seed of the same variety, sowed them ourselves,
0:11:11 > 0:11:13they were all planted on that same day
0:11:13 > 0:11:16and we've got a lovely collection here looking quite nice.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19We've a cabbage here, Excel. Then there's a calabrese.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21Look, the heads are just coming on that.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23Looking a bit sad this morning as they've had a frost
0:11:23 > 0:11:26but they'll come back again. That is Aquiles.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29Then Spring Hero cabbage and then a cauliflower called Mystique -
0:11:29 > 0:11:32a mystery to me because I don't know what it's going to do.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35And then finally, a nice range of lettuces.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37They're all coming on rather well
0:11:37 > 0:11:40so I'm looking forward, I'm salivating thinking about them.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43We'd a few spare plants and everybody doesn't have a polytunnel.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46We've tried them in one of the raised beds here
0:11:46 > 0:11:48and covered it with a fleece
0:11:48 > 0:11:49and they're looking a wee bit sad.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51They are, but I think people don't realise
0:11:51 > 0:11:53the range of vegetables you can grow.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55Things like lettuce, they're hardy enough, aren't they?
0:11:55 > 0:11:59- They'll recover. - Hopefully they will, Jim.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02Anyway, I'd just like to remind you
0:12:02 > 0:12:04that back in the back in the middle of September
0:12:04 > 0:12:07Lesley and myself were planting bulbs for Christmas.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09We were forcing things like hyacinths.
0:12:09 > 0:12:14Now's the time to have a little bit of a reveal here.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16We're speaking roughly ten weeks
0:12:16 > 0:12:20that they've been covered in the dark.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23It's a bit frozen here, so I'll have to be careful how I do this.
0:12:24 > 0:12:29I can see already... Oh, look at that!
0:12:29 > 0:12:32One of the hyacinths there, see if I can get another one.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35Oh, they are perfect for coming out of here.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38What I'm going to do is take all of the bulbs out,
0:12:38 > 0:12:41take them to the greenhouse, and we'll pot some of them on.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49That's all the bulbs lifted and just to remind you,
0:12:49 > 0:12:51Lesley and myself were forcing a whole range of bulbs.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55We've got things like underneath here we've got crocus.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57We've got tulips, we've got narcissus
0:12:57 > 0:13:00and then the hyacinth, which I wanted to put into individual pots.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04The next stage is putting them into a bowl
0:13:04 > 0:13:07and making sure they're all at the same stage of development.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09I think it's quite interesting looking here -
0:13:09 > 0:13:13I've got two varieties - Pink Frosting and Delft Blue.
0:13:13 > 0:13:14If you look at the Delft Blue,
0:13:14 > 0:13:18they are a little behind the pink variety.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21I think that just goes to show that you should never mix your varieties
0:13:21 > 0:13:23when you're planting them for forcing.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27What I can do is just pick three at the same stage.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31Look at the fabulous root system on that, which is great.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33I'm really pleased with the results of this.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36And I can put two or three in here.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40What we've got to be careful about is the temperatures now -
0:13:40 > 0:13:45you don't want it too warm, round about 10 to 13 degrees centigrade.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49If anything, make sure they're slightly shaded.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53Do that for about a week and then you can maybe increase
0:13:53 > 0:13:57the temperatures up to a maximum of around 18 degrees centigrade.
0:13:57 > 0:14:02That way, hopefully we'll get flowers for Christmas or if not,
0:14:02 > 0:14:06by the New Year, and the flowers were last quite a bit of time.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09'And sure enough, all throughout the month of February,
0:14:09 > 0:14:13'we had a really wonderful and colourful show of bulbs.'
0:14:13 > 0:14:15And then finally, speaking about flowers,
0:14:15 > 0:14:17just have a look at these cinerarias.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19I'm so pleased with these.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23These were sown from seed back in June, just a packet of seeds.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26The variety, Cineraria Spring Glory
0:14:26 > 0:14:29and I promised you that we'd get flowers by December
0:14:29 > 0:14:31and that's what we've got.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39A few minutes ago you saw a frustrated gentleman
0:14:39 > 0:14:42standing in front of green manuring that he couldnae dig in
0:14:42 > 0:14:44because it was frost all over the place.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46Since then, the digging has been completed
0:14:46 > 0:14:49and we've had the areas covered to help warm them up.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52And look at that, the soil's in wonderful nick -
0:14:52 > 0:14:54even the weed seedlings are coming through.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58And the temperature, in fact, is up to nearly 10,
0:14:58 > 0:15:02which means that we can start sowing carrots probably by next week.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05I'd hate you to think that the gardeners were slouching once all the digging was done.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07We've been doing other things as well -
0:15:07 > 0:15:10we've a fancy new shed up there, not so far to go for a cup of coffee!
0:15:11 > 0:15:15Hopefully you'll recognise this pot from earlier on in the programme.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18That was when I was planting up those forced hyacinths.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20That was back in the middle of December
0:15:20 > 0:15:24and these didn't actually flower for us until the end of January.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26The reason for that is we held back the temperatures,
0:15:26 > 0:15:29just around about 10 degrees centigrade.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32That meant that they flowered for about a month.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35What do you do after that? Can you force them again?
0:15:35 > 0:15:36Well, the answer is no.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39But we can use them - we can plant them into the garden.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42But we need to do a little bit of work first.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44What you want to do is a little bit of deadheading,
0:15:44 > 0:15:48so you don't want all that energy going into the flower and setting seed.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51Leave the stalks on and then I want to feed them
0:15:51 > 0:15:55about every 10-14 days with a high-potash fertiliser,
0:15:55 > 0:15:58something like a tomato fertiliser.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01Let the foliage naturally die down, then you can dry them off
0:16:01 > 0:16:04and we'll plant them in the garden in autumn time
0:16:04 > 0:16:07and hopefully, they'll flower for us next spring.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09This greenhouse is absolutely packed full of plants
0:16:09 > 0:16:12that have overwintered really well.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14A lot of those plants are going to go up to the conservatory
0:16:14 > 0:16:16but take a look at this new greenhouse!
0:16:16 > 0:16:19Yes, indeed. This is a propagating house
0:16:19 > 0:16:22and when we came here in the first place,
0:16:22 > 0:16:26we brought with us a house which was an experimental double-skinned house
0:16:26 > 0:16:28and sadly, it's no longer available on the market
0:16:28 > 0:16:31and getting spares for it was getting more and more difficult.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34It was becoming a bit of a headache so we've built, during the winter,
0:16:34 > 0:16:36this brand-new proper greenhouse
0:16:36 > 0:16:39and the two things that attracted me to the design in the first place
0:16:39 > 0:16:43were the huge ventilators, because many, many glasshouses
0:16:43 > 0:16:47don't have enough ventilation and the temperatures get too high.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50That was one thing and the other thing is that it's fitted
0:16:50 > 0:16:53with outside shaded blinds that can be pinned down.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57For sunny days you pull the blinds down and these dull summer days,
0:16:57 > 0:17:01you can bring them up, as the plants need all the light they can get.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04Our propagation bench here fitted in nicely, as did the other bench
0:17:04 > 0:17:08which Carolyn is busy filling up as fast as she can go.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11I certainly am, and it's a lovely greenhouse, lovely day to be here as well.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15What I'm looking at is alternatives to Impatiens walleriana,
0:17:15 > 0:17:18which is Busy Lizzies to you and me.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20Last year, people had a lot of trouble with downy mildew.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22It may happen this year, depending on the weather.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24If it's warm and sunny, you won't see it.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27If it is our normal Scottish summer, you might.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29I'm looking at other things that we can trial
0:17:29 > 0:17:31to see how they do in our Scottish climate.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34I've got things like petunias, verbena, bedding begonias,
0:17:34 > 0:17:38which I think will be a very good alternative as well,
0:17:38 > 0:17:42- but it's not got the colour range. - Very reliable but, as you say.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45Very reliable. Some tuberous begonias here as well.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48Things like dahlias, dahlias are becoming very, very popular now.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51Good colour range and all do well in Scotland.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54They don't mind the rain, do they?
0:17:54 > 0:17:56I remember the dahlias that we had last year in the plots.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58That's right. So there's lots of alternatives.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01If you still can't be without impatiens,
0:18:01 > 0:18:04then you could look at things like Mew Guinea impatiens,
0:18:04 > 0:18:09Also, SunPatiens, which are kind of a bigger, beefier plant.
0:18:09 > 0:18:10Are they going to be as hardy?
0:18:10 > 0:18:13Are they going to do as well in our rainy summer?
0:18:13 > 0:18:16New Guineas need warmer temperatures, so they can't go out till later.
0:18:16 > 0:18:17SunPatiens are pretty tough.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19I mean, there're bigger, but pretty tough.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22We're not going to neglect the old Busy Lizzie altogether?
0:18:22 > 0:18:24No, no, definitely not - they might be fine this year.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28The breeders are looking at breeding out the problems and gaining disease resistance,
0:18:28 > 0:18:32so they probably will be back on track fairly soon but you know,
0:18:32 > 0:18:35if we get a nice, sunny summer, well, no problems at all.
0:18:42 > 0:18:47Well, I've always fancied a grand staircase entrance. Here we are!
0:18:47 > 0:18:51Welcome to our first garden visit of the new series.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54I'm in the Floral Hall of the Bught Park, Inverness
0:18:54 > 0:18:59and I'm off to meet my guide for the day, Sarah Speakman.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10What I love about this sort of setup is you see
0:19:10 > 0:19:14some very strange plants but also, you see some old pals.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16Like the Amaryllis there - that's a gorgeous colour.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18- It's very beautiful.- Do you just throw them out when you're finished?
0:19:18 > 0:19:21SHE CHUCKLES No, we don't.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25We save them, Jim. We let them die back, we then let them dry out...
0:19:25 > 0:19:28We probably keep them in storage for two or three months
0:19:28 > 0:19:30- and then we bring them on again. - Away you go again.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33- Yes.- Your Iresine's looking a bit bedraggled.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35It is. I'm very ashamed of the Iresine!
0:19:35 > 0:19:37But there'll be a lot like that around country.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39What do you do with them?
0:19:39 > 0:19:44We'll cut it down by about two thirds, take it right down to some of these healthy buds,
0:19:44 > 0:19:46and it'll grow away from the bottom very nicely.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48Good on you.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52- These are lovely. These are Nepenthes.- Yes.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56- Amazing, aren't they?- Yes. - I paid a visit to Cambodia
0:19:56 > 0:20:00- about three years ago, and they were growing up the trees there.- Wow.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03I stopped the car, you know, to have a look at them.
0:20:03 > 0:20:04There they were in the wild.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06Yeah, I've heard that in the wild
0:20:06 > 0:20:11- they will catch small mammals and birds.- Well, I didn't stop for long! - THEY LAUGH
0:20:15 > 0:20:17- It looks as if it's fish-feeding time.- It is, Jim.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20- Are they getting their cornflakes? - They're getting their wee pellets,
0:20:20 > 0:20:26and we're coming up to the most important person in the floral hall.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29- I'd like to introduce you to Pam. - Pam, hello. How are you?
0:20:29 > 0:20:33- Fine, thank you.- How long have you been here?- About eight years now.
0:20:33 > 0:20:39- So all these plants and these fish will be your personal friends?- Yep.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42- Do you know their names? - Most of them.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46- Not that I'm going to, sort of, test you or anything...- Good!
0:20:46 > 0:20:48..but they are well labelled.
0:20:48 > 0:20:49They are.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59Do you aspire to be a botanic garden?
0:20:59 > 0:21:02Jim, we would love to be a botanic garden.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04Do you have to meet certain parameters?
0:21:04 > 0:21:05You don't have to sit an exam.
0:21:05 > 0:21:11There are certain guidelines that are laid down for what a botanic garden should be,
0:21:11 > 0:21:14and we do meet some of those, in terms of
0:21:14 > 0:21:18- the way our plants are laid out. - You've got to start SOMEWHERE. - You have to start somewhere...
0:21:18 > 0:21:20- It was fairly raise the profile. - It really would.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25- Why have we stopped here? - What I wanted to show you here
0:21:25 > 0:21:27was an example of one of our predator insects.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30We use biological control to control the pests that we don't want.
0:21:30 > 0:21:36- Looks like a slater. - This little thing is the larvae of an Australian ladybird.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39It's called Cryptolaemus montrouzieri,
0:21:39 > 0:21:42and what it is after is mealy bug.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44It's good for us because we have a big mealy bug problem.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47- Is that available to the amateur gardener?- It is, Jim.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50It's the bane of people's lives, mealy bug.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53But your plants in general are in very good health.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55Very little disease, so you have good environmental control,
0:21:55 > 0:21:58and you've obviously got good pest control.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02Well, we do use a lot of different types of predators.
0:22:02 > 0:22:03Do you have to keep renewing that,
0:22:03 > 0:22:05or have they made themselves at home here?
0:22:05 > 0:22:09These ones have survived the winter. There's a colony.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12We do introduce new individuals every year,
0:22:12 > 0:22:14but we have the right conditions.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17And the adult ladybirds quite like this environment, do they?
0:22:17 > 0:22:20They do, and they will fly off to the places that we can't reach
0:22:20 > 0:22:24and they will track down mealy bug that are way up in colonies in the climbers.
0:22:24 > 0:22:25Brilliant. Super.
0:22:30 > 0:22:34That's rather a handsome weeping fig.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36It is. It's beautiful.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38There are lots of people with that,
0:22:38 > 0:22:40- but I bet they don't realise how big it gets. - HE CHUCKLES
0:22:40 > 0:22:42What's this fella?
0:22:42 > 0:22:44This is an avocado, Jim.
0:22:44 > 0:22:45Gosh...
0:22:45 > 0:22:48It was donated to us about two years ago
0:22:48 > 0:22:52by a lady who had grown it from a stone,
0:22:52 > 0:22:54and look at it now. It can't stop growing.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57There's a good object lesson, folks.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59It's a popular pastime, is trying to get this thing...
0:22:59 > 0:23:01This is what it does. Huge,
0:23:01 > 0:23:03- and no sign of any...?- No sign.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06- I searched for avocados, but no sign yet.- Could be a few years.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08I think it will be a few years.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19So, here we are, a change of environment.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23We haven't travelled very far. It's quite dry.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25We've come right into the desert now.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29- Of course, this amount of stone will take the heat and... - Yes, radiate it out.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32There's some stunning plants.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36While that's Crassula ovata, which is actually the money plant.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38Of course, aye!
0:23:38 > 0:23:40So if you got a money plant at home and it's not flowering,
0:23:40 > 0:23:42if you keep it there for long enough, it will!
0:23:42 > 0:23:46- Let it get that big, it will do.- Do you find people want to touch them?
0:23:46 > 0:23:50They do want to touch them, but they are full of needles and thorns.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58Some people would be forgiven for thinking that this is just
0:23:58 > 0:24:01a floral hall set-up, but you've got some rather nice gardens.
0:24:01 > 0:24:06- We have.- To what extent? - About two acres, Jim.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08Yeah, because they're lovely,
0:24:08 > 0:24:11and you can't walk past these without commenting on these wonderful birches.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14- They are really beautiful. - Do you wash them often?
0:24:14 > 0:24:18- No, we never wash them! - Some people in the towns with all the stuff in the air,
0:24:18 > 0:24:20go out with a sponge and rub off the green moss...
0:24:20 > 0:24:23It's the Highland air that keeps them clean, Jim!
0:24:30 > 0:24:32As we came through the gate back there, Sarah,
0:24:32 > 0:24:36I noticed the garden project. That's this area here.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38- Tell me about it.- That's right, the garden project
0:24:38 > 0:24:42is a horticultural project for adults with learning difficulties.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46We provide a sympathetic workplace environment
0:24:46 > 0:24:48for them to use different skills.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51Horticulture is a great vehicle for learning skills,
0:24:51 > 0:24:54which can be transferred to any environment.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56And can some of them move on?
0:24:56 > 0:24:59Some people move on, some people stay with us for a long time,
0:24:59 > 0:25:01which is lovely.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03- I've had a super visit.- Thank you very much indeed.- Many thanks.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11This is a great time of year to be dividing
0:25:11 > 0:25:13and splitting your herbaceous.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16At the moment, I'm looking at this elephant's ear,
0:25:16 > 0:25:18which needs a good tidy up in the centre.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20There's quite a lot of dieback there,
0:25:20 > 0:25:22and because it's a fleshy root system,
0:25:22 > 0:25:24I'm going to have to go in with a spade.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29But if you had something with fibrous roots,
0:25:29 > 0:25:32I would lift the clump and then use two garden forks,
0:25:32 > 0:25:34back to back, and divide it that way.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37This is one of the little wood rushes which we put in a while ago.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40What's happened is, it has started to grow up and up.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44It will get completely out of shape and do the wrong thing.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46So I'm going to lift it... You can then tease out
0:25:46 > 0:25:49some bits like that with root on them.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52These will then go into a container, one or two pieces of compost
0:25:52 > 0:25:54on the top, a good water,
0:25:54 > 0:25:55and then in about a month,
0:25:55 > 0:25:58they will be rooted well and I can plant them where I want.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02Some plants like this sedum tend to get a bit of a dying out in the middle,
0:26:02 > 0:26:03as you can see here.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06The best thing to do is to lift that and split it
0:26:06 > 0:26:09into maybe... I'll probably get three sections out of here.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11Then all the different parts will rejuvenate
0:26:11 > 0:26:13and plants will grow a lot better.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20This is the time of year you can sort out plants that tend to get a bit invasive, like this Athemesia.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23Go around with the spade, like so...
0:26:23 > 0:26:26and prevent it from spreading.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28That leaves a wee one here that's isolated.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30Let's have that one up,
0:26:30 > 0:26:32because I can get that into a pot...
0:26:33 > 0:26:38..and I know the very gardener who would be quite grateful to have it.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55Well, there's surely another sign of an early season -
0:26:55 > 0:26:58last days of March and they're already in the pond, clearing it up.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Short sleeves! Yes, not bad.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02A lot of clear water in there,
0:27:02 > 0:27:04and you can see the water lilies coming through.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07And you can see the frogspawn as well, there's loads of frogspawn!
0:27:07 > 0:27:11And a little skunk cabbage that's just appearing,
0:27:11 > 0:27:13that's incredibly early, isn't it?
0:27:13 > 0:27:16Yes, we'll have to watch that - it's one of the baddies.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18Speaking of baddies, blanket weed, as well.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21Get in early.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24That's the downside of this warm weather, keep on top of it.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27- Talking about the downside, what about...?- Well, these are OK.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30They'll be all right. They won't escape.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34THEY'VE come through the winter remarkably well. That's Saracenas, north-east American.
0:27:34 > 0:27:35Yes, carnivorous plants.
0:27:35 > 0:27:39- They are.- I was extremely doubtful, George, as to how hardy they were.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42- They've come through this winter. - And there's a bit of new growth,
0:27:42 > 0:27:44maybe we need a bit more moss on the top.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46I think we'll need to pretty it up a wee bit.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50We'll need to get all the covering off the gunnery -
0:27:50 > 0:27:53that's still covered up and it's probably time to come off now.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55- It'll be desperate to come off. - I think so!
0:27:55 > 0:27:57What about us reintroducing fish?
0:27:57 > 0:28:00- You'll have to watch George.- Why? - He might catch them.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03- You used to have them, didn't you? - Yes, we had some nice golden orfe.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05Yes, we should maybe reintroduce them.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08- But maybe that's for another day?- OK.
0:28:08 > 0:28:09So, here we go again.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12Like last year, if you would like any more information
0:28:12 > 0:28:14about this week's programme, it's all in the fact sheet.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17The easiest way to access that is online.
0:28:17 > 0:28:18But something new for this year,
0:28:18 > 0:28:21would you believe it, you can find us on Facebook and Twitter.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24You can find out all about us and the Beechgrove Garden.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26- (What are you talking about?) - SHE LAUGHS
0:28:26 > 0:28:29That's enough for this week! Until next time,
0:28:29 > 0:28:31- goodbye!- Bye!- Goodbye.- Goodbye.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd